Buccaneers' Bucky Irving Includes Himself on Shocking List

Buccaneers' Irving Sets Sights on Top 5 RBs

Tampa Bay back aiming for second straight 1,000-yard season.

Bucky Irving isn't shying away from big expectations as he heads into his second year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The running back believes he belongs among the NFL's elite and is setting his sights on a repeat performance of last season's success.

Irving joins an exclusive club if he manages another 1,000-yard rushing season. He'd become the first Buccaneer to achieve that feat since Errict Rhett in 1994 and 1995. The former Oregon standout carried the Ducks' offense with impressive results: 2,238 yards and 16 touchdowns over his final two seasons, averaging an eye-popping 16 yards per carry. Those numbers caught the attention of Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht, who drafted Irving in the fourth round last year.

"We got some good ones out there, man," Irving said to NFL Network analyst Steve Smith Sr. "I'd probably put myself, we got some dogs, I’m going to put myself in the top-5, for sure."

Irving began last season as the backup to Rachaad White but quickly took over as the lead back midway through the year. He finished with 1,122 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging a respectable 5.4 yards per carry.

His performance will be crucial if the Buccaneers hope to continue their dominant run in the NFC South, aiming for a record fifth straight championship and a sixth consecutive playoff berth in 2025.